Role of Reactive Oxygen Species in Neurodegenerative Diseases

The altered redox state leads to oxidative stress through the extravagant synthesis of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and inhibition of the antioxidant system. The high oxygen demand in nervous tissue makes it vulnerable to ROS, and the presence of peroxidation-prone lipid cells worsens the situation. We now understand that oxidative stress plays a role in the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease, Motor neuron disease, and Alzheimer's disease. In spite of the fact that there is no lasting cure for any of these diseases, antioxidant treatments have been promoted as ways to treat and discourse neurodegenerative diseases. However, the results regarding their efficacy are contradictory. This chapter examines the role played by oxidative stress in the etiology of neurodegenerative diseases and how they lead to brain dysfunction in people. It will later provide an overview of antioxidants as a therapeutic option for oxidative stress-induced damage.

Keywords: Alzheimer's disease, Motor neuron disease, Neurodegenerative disorders, Oxidative stress, Reactive oxygen species (ROS), Parkinson's disease.